Creating Smiles, Restoring Confidence

Creating Smiles, Restoring Confidence

A smile is something many of us take for granted. For children born with cleft lip or cleft palate, a smile can come with pain, isolation, and years of medical challenges if left untreated. Austin Smiles exists to change that story.

For decades, this organization has provided sustainable surgical and post-surgical care to children born with cleft lip and cleft palate in Central Texas and across Latin America. Their work restores not only physical health, but confidence, dignity, and the ability for children to fully participate in school, family, and community life.

Why This Care Matters

One in every 700 children is born with a cleft lip or palate. Without proper treatment, these children often face difficulties with feeding, speech, breathing, and hearing. Many also experience stigma and emotional isolation that can follow them well into adulthood.

Austin Smiles believes every child deserves access to care that addresses the whole person. That includes surgery, dental and orthodontic care, speech therapy, nutrition support, and emotional and social programming. All services are provided at no cost to families who otherwise would not be able to afford them.

Standing With This Work

In 2025, Altrua Ministries partnered in supporting the mission of Austin Smiles. That support helps sustain the systems, teams, and long-term care that make these life-changing outcomes possible for children and their families.

As Renee Hanson Malone, Executive Director of Austin Smiles, shared:

“The Austin Plastic Surgery Foundation is truly grateful to Altrua HealthShare and Altrua Ministries for their generous support of our life-changing mission. Due to the kindness and altruism of Altrua, thousands of children born with cleft lip and palate have received no-cost, transformative surgical care, as well as mental health services, dental care, speech therapy, nutrition supports, and social and emotional programming. Thank you to Altrua for helping us change lives, one smile at a time. We are forever grateful.”

We are honored to come alongside work that treats children with such care, respect, and compassion.

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